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GLASGOW, Scotland — Here is a main section of Pope Benedict XVI’s homily this evening at Mass in Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park:

I encourage the Catholic professionals, politicians and teachers of Scotland never to lose sight of their calling to use their talents and experience in the service of the faith, engaging contemporary Scottish culture at every level.

The evangelization of culture is all the more important in our times, when a “dictatorship of relativism” threatens to obscure the unchanging truth about man’s nature, his destiny and his ultimate good. There are some who now seek to exclude religious belief from public discourse, to privatize it or even to paint it as a threat to equality and liberty. Yet religion is in fact a guarantee of authentic liberty and respect, leading us to look upon every person as a brother or sister. For this reason I appeal in particular to you, the lay faithful, in accordance with your baptismal calling and mission, not only to be examples of faith in public, but also to put the case for the promotion of faith’s wisdom and vision in the public forum. Society today needs clear voices which propose our right to live, not in a jungle of self-destructive and arbitrary freedoms, but in a society which works for the true welfare of its citizens and offers them guidance and protection in the face of their weakness and fragility. Do not be afraid to take up this service to your brothers and sisters, and to the future of your beloved nation.

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I agree with the Holy Father because relativism undermines a true knowledge of virtue and leads to inaction fed by skepticism. Popularity is an effect of relativism. Virtue in Scotland is the same, in principle , as it is in Rome. What is true is prior to who says so and when– except for God. I believe the Pope is humble before the truth and for that reason he commands respect.

[Clarification to above comment regarding popularity and relativism.] I agree with the Holy Father because relativism undermines a true knowledge of virtue and leads to inaction fed by skepticism. Popularity is an effect of relativism. Virtue in Scotland is the same, in principle , as it is in Rome. What is true is prior to who says so and when– except for God. I believe the Pope is humble before the truth and for that reason he commands respect among the sometime “unpopular” faithful.